Ақсель Шульц: Неміс боксшысының карьерасы

German boxer

Axel Schulz (born 9 November 1968) is a German former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 1999, and in 2006. He challenged three times for both the IBF and European heavyweight titles. As an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Championships and silver at the 1989 European Championships, both in the heavyweight division. Schulz first fought for a world championship in 1995, when he challenged George Foreman for his IBF title. Schulz lost a very close majority decision, but was immediately granted a second opportunity at the title in the same year. With Foreman having vacated the title after refusing a rematch, Schulz faced Francois Botha but this time lost via (a controversial) split decision. However, Botha later failed a drug test, which led to Schulz receiving a third chance at the title. In 1996 he fought Michael Moorer for the vacant IBF title, losing again via split decision. During his career, Schulz also fought Jeremy Williams and former world champions Henry Akinwande, James Smith and Wladimir Klitschko.

From 1982 Schulz boxed for the army sports club Vorwärts in Frankfurt (Oder), later becoming the East German youth champion. From 1986 onward, he was a Stasi informer under the codename "Markus". At the junior European championships in Denmark in 1986, Schulz won the light heavyweight title, and in 1988, under the tutelage of Manfred Wolke, he became East German heavyweight champion. In 1989 he won the Chemiepokal in Halle (Saale), the silver medal at European Championships in Athens, and a bronze medal in the world championships in Moscow, where he lost to Félix Savón. Amateur record: 78 wins, 20 losses.

After reunification, Schulz turned professional. In 1992 he became German heavyweight champion after defeating Bernd Friedrich in Kassel. 1992 and 1993 saw two fights against Henry Akinwande for the European championship. The first fight was declared a draw, but in the return match Schulz suffered his first professional defeat.

On 22 April 1995 Schulz fought George Foreman for the IBF heavyweight title, losing controversially on points. This was Foreman's first fight since regaining the title from Michael Moorer, and Schulz was viewed at the time as being a weak, unknown opponent. After refusing a rematch, Foreman was stripped of his title and Schulz was given a second opportunity when he fought Francois Botha for the vacant title on 12 December 1995. Following a split decision verdict in Botha's favour, the result was changed to a no contest when Botha failed a doping test. A third chance followed for Schulz on 22 June 1996 when he faced Michael Moorer for the still vacant title. Moorer won on points. Several fights against lower quality opposition followed. These included a stoppage victory over Kevin McBride, who eight years later would defeat a badly faded Mike Tyson. Schulz ended his career after suffering a stoppage at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko on 25 September 1999 for the vacant European championship. Schulz had been thoroughly outclassed. In the end, despite lofty expectations after the George Foreman fight, Schulz was unable to win a title at European or world level.

Since the end of his career Schulz has worked in television as a summariser. In December 2005 he received an offer to fight again from Carl King, the stepson of the boxing promoter Don King. His comeback fight took place on November 25, 2006, against Brian Minto. He lost the fight in the sixth Round (T. K. O.). He retired with a record with 26 5 1 and one no contest with 11 knockouts. Axel Schulz married in March 2006. He and his wife had their first child, a girl, on 19 August 2006: Paulina Patricia Clara and another girl born in January 2010: Amelina Patricia Hedwig.

No. (Number)ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes33Loss26–5–1 Brian MintoTKO6 (10), 25 Nov 2006 32Loss26–4–1 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO8 (12), 25 Sep 1999 31Win26–3–1 Richard MasonUD1022 Aug 1998 30Win25–3–1 Julius FrancisUD1228 Feb 1998 29Win24–3–1 Kevin McBrideTKO9 (10)30 Aug 1997 28Win23–3–1 Jorge ValdesUD1026 Apr 1997 27Win22–3–1 Jose RibaltaUD107 Dec 1996 26Loss21–3–1 Michael MoorerSD1222 Jun 1996 25NC (No contest)21–2–1 Francois BothaSD (Split decision)129 Dec 1995 24Loss21–2–1 George ForemanMD (Majority decision)1222 Apr 1995 23Win21–1–1 James SmithUD1017 Sep 1994 22Win20–1–1 Jack BastingUD1018 Jun 1994 21Win19–1–1 Troy JeffersonPTS84 Jun 1994 20Win18–1–1 Al EvansTKO3 (10)7 May 1994 19Win17–1–1 Carlton WestKO216 Oct 1993 18Win16–1–1 Kimmuel OdumUD107 Aug 1993 17Loss15–1–1 Henry AkinwandeUD121 May 1993 16Draw15–0–1 Henry AkinwandeMD (Majority draw)1219 Dec 1992 15Win15–0 Ricky ParkeyPTS82 Oct 1992 14Win14–0 Bernd FriedrichUD1019 Sep 1992 13Win13–0 Laszlo PaszterkoPTS825 Apr 1992 12Win12–0 Gary McCroryTKO2 (8)6 Mar 1992 11Win11–0 Ricardo SpainTKO2 (8)28 Jan 1992 10Win10–0 Charles DixonKO26 Dec 1991 9Win9–0 David MuhammedPTS82 Oct 1991 8Win8–0 Steve GeeKO2 (8)13 Sep 1991 7Win7–0 Laszlo ViragTKO328 Jun 1991 6Win6–0 Steve GarberKO (Knockout)5 (8)31 May 1991 5Win5–0 Ramon VoornTKO5, 28 Feb 1991 4Win4–0 Ramon VoornPTS614 Dec 1990 3Win3–0 Barry EllisPTS (Points decision)67 Dec 1990 2Win2–0 Jens PloesserTKO (Technical knockout)116 Nov 1990 1Win1–0 George AjioUD (Unanimous decision)65 Oct 1990

Date Fight Viewership (avg. (average)) Source(s) George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz 3,900,000 Axel Schulz vs. Francois Botha 18,030,000 Axel Schulz vs. Michael Moorer 11,000,000 Axel Schulz vs. Julius Francis 8,370,000 Axel Schulz vs. Wladimir Klitschko10,530,000 Axel Schulz vs. Brian Minto 11,530,000 Total viewership 74,300,000